American
Kestrel, Falco sparverius

Kestrels are one of our most common raptors, often seen perched, and also hovering over grass fields and hillsides as they forage for small mammals.
Though
widespread and abundant, and gloriously photogenic, they are skittish
and stingy with good photo-ops. Males, shown above and in the next three
images down, have back and
underparts rufous-based and spotted black, solid dark gray upperwings also
with black spots,
and a black terminal bar to their tails.